The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1

Ripped from Batman's greatest nightmares, the Grim Knight is his world's most dangerous vigilante, unafraid to use any weapon and go to any lengths to stop those whom he deems worthy of death. Trained with the finest arsenal Wayne money can buy, learn the secret origin of the second-deadliest Batman, hand selected by the Batman Who Laughs to bring his dark plans to fruition. This one-shot has a big 28-page story!

I loved the diversion from the main story and it was definitely needed. We needed to know what the back story was for the Grim Knight. We are left with more questions in what the ultimate plan is for TBWL and how the Grim Knight fits into it as I cannot imagine a world where both of these creatures co-exist. The egos are too big. Jim Gordon turns out to be the real hero in this as his police training and interrogation skills keep peeling back layer after layer in the Grim Knight. This Grim Knight wants to get a second chance at Gordon. A Gordon that Jim doesn't know, but the goodness that is Jim Gordon appears to permeate through all time lines. Hooray for Jim and Hooray for us….this is the best story line for Batman since Bane broke his back! Read Full Review

I'm a sucker for continuity and tributes to classic Batman tales of the past. I love alternate timelines, parallel worlds and “What If” stories. Batman is my all-time favorite comics character. This issue ticks each and every one of those boxes. Read Full Review

It really is a shocking issue, with a spectacular art and an great script, we have an explosive story with a lot of action, I think the question of "What would happen if Batman wielded a firearm?" is completely resolved with the result of a lethal Batman, an unscrupulous being who will not hesitate to apply any method (preferably violent) in his war against the underworld of Gotham. Read Full Review

We've already gotten some strong cliffhangers from previous installments, but this one is a doozy as Snyder and Jock take Batman further down his worst nightmare. I've got no idea where this series is going and I'm loving that sense of uncertainty. Read Full Review

I had more fun with this issue than I thought I would have. While the story is predictable in a few places, the old school Elseworlds feel coupled with the amazing artwork, make this one shot a blast to look at and a hell of a lot of cool fun. If you haven't caught up with the "Batman Who Laughs" mini-series, do so and then read this, because it is more than worth it. Read Full Review

You have been reading the Batman Who Laughs miniseries"you really can't miss this chapter if you have!Absolutely stellar artwork is always welcome in your collection!You are a fan of Jim Gordon! This is a must buy for the art alone! Risso and Stewart carry the book, and are fantastic storytellers. Snyder and Tynion provide a solid script; it's not riddled with exposition, but the exposition is used effectively: it's to the point and clear. Perhaps the most interesting element of the book is the way in which it examines the relationship between Grim Knight and Gordon, and it reveals why Grim Knight decided to take Gordon with him in the first place. It's this final reveal that turns the story upside-down and makes you look at Grim Knight differently. Seriously, fellow comic fans"you don't want to miss this! Read Full Review

Watching The Grim Knight wield the city of Gotham like a scythe was quite the treat, and I'm excited to see how his mission to kill evil will play out alongside one of the most evil and twisted beings to ever walk the multiverse. This comic should be an automatic addition to everyone's pull list. If for nothing else, the prodigious level of skill in the art department should grab you. But there's also Tynion's magic touch when it comes to writing one-shots for evil Batman incarnations that Scott Snyder's twisted mind conjures up. Read Full Review

The way Scott Snyder and James Tynion lay out the origin, it doesn't appear The Grim Knight could have his own series. It'd be worth a shot. The character almost makes The Punisher seem soft. But because he's made it so hard for villains to exist in Gotham, a full-fledged story, or even a mini-series, would likely just entail The Grim Knight mowing his adversaries. Read Full Review

The way Scott Snyder and James Tynion lay out the origin, it doesn't appear The Grim Knight could have his own series. It'd be worth a shot. The character almost makes The Punisher seem soft. But because he's made it so hard for villains to exist in Gotham, a full-fledged story, or even a mini-series, would likely just entail The Grim Knight mowing his adversaries. Read Full Review

This should be on everyone's reading list this week, on the basis of Eduardo Risso and Dave Stewart alone. Thankfully the script keeps up with the incredible artwork and we have a genuinely fantastic and brutal issue that delves deep into this new villain. Read Full Review

Snyder and Tynion give us the origin story for a character we didnt know we needed until a couple months ago. The Grim Knight is dark, ruthless, and a reflection of where we would be if our justice system was irrevocably broken. Its a frightening tale that only they could bring us so well! Read Full Review

This one-shot had enough in it to make it well worth the read for fans of the Batman Who Laughs mini-series. The Grim Knight is fleshed out and if you didn't think he was a badass before, you will after reading this. I have been saying I am a surprise fan of the Batman Who Laughs and I can now say the same for the Grim Knight. Read Full Review

Reaching the halfway point of the mini-series, but still lacking anything of any real importance or anything of actual significance has yet to happen. The second half of the title will have to pick up the slack and prove to readers why these villains deserved to survive past their initial debut last summer. The two Justice League writers take a break from their main titles to just have fun and let loose with a friend and bring some heavy fan service to store shelves. Read Full Review

The issue is a good one and one and delivers a character I want to see more of. We're shown a Batman who isn't just flawed but also isn't invincible. We see him being defeated which gives us something we don't see too often when it comes to the character. The dark multiverse shook things up and we can still be surprised with something new like this. A solid addition to the world Scott Snyder is building and he and Tynion deliver a fantastic chapter in The Batman Who Laughs' tale. Read Full Review

The Grim Knight #1 is a power fantasy for all of us who revel in its masculine identity. It's also a story that lays out in brutal detail that while our Batman operates outside the strictures of the law, it is those laws that keeps monsters like the Grim Knight from imposing their twisted morals and values over the rest of us. Read Full Review

Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV do an excellent job telling an engaging origin story, but the Grim Knight doesn't feel like a far departure from the Batman we've seen in Tom King's run. Read Full Review

I feel like Natalia Imbruglia"I'm torn. On the one hand, there were so many great moments and elements throughout The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1; my biggest critique is simply that there just wasn't enough. The issue stood in one place when there was limitless potential to be much more far-reachingand exploratory. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I know that's such a reductionist statement on what honestly was a great comic book; I suppose my expectations were just a tad too high. Read Full Review

Overall, this issue was a great exploration into the Grim Knight. Just like the rest of the Dark Knight tie-ins, Snyder does a great job at building interesting characters. But this issue doesn't really add anything to the story Read Full Review

I have liked the other Batman's from across the Multiverse, but I connect to the Grim Knight the most. His story is extremely organic. Just by one decision, he would become a totally different Batman " one that would eliminate all evil instead of seeking justice. Read Full Review

The Batman Who Laughs - The Grim Knight #1 was an excellent read. Snyder and Tynion deliver a fun stand-alone issue that does a great job of providing more detail and texture to the main story on The Batman Who Laughs. If you have been enjoying The Batman Who Laughs and find the Grim Knight an interesting character then you definitely need to pick up this issue. Read Full Review

Ultimately I really enjoyed the way things were presented to us, and it's always a welcome treat when we are given the origin of a new Knightmare Batman. I found the relationship and interactions between The Grim Knight and Jim Gordon to be the highlight of the book, and it really gave me a much earned feeling of respect for everyone's favorite commissioner as the events of the story does well to remind us how much of a bad ass Jim can be when his city is being threatened by a crazy psychopath. Where I didn't end up finding the Grim Knight's origin to be everything I had hoped for, I did still really enjoy learning what fuels and motivates him, and it piqued my interest enough that I wanna learn more and see where this story will go. I wonder what the Grim Knight's future beyond this story will be because he's a very promising character with plenty of room to grow. Read Full Review

Great issue. It’s a cool Elseworld story, which takes place in the canon timeline, at the same time giving us some background for the Grim Knight. It’s interesting how crazy (or crazier) Batman can be under the right circumstances. Which proves he can be even worse than his villains, when he’s just pushed over the edge. It’s also interesting, that villains like Two Face never became villains in this world. Gordon& Alfred are my favorite ones in this issue. However I personally can’t stand the Grim Knight, the idea of a Batman, who kills is just wrong for me. But that’s the point of the story, so I hope he gets killed at the end. (And as cool as the Laughing Batman is, I hope the same for him.)
The art changed, when the past was told. I liked both. So cant wait until The Batman Who Laughs 4 gets released. more

A monthly series for the Grim Knight is what this issue confirms. A reality that makes Batman a true antihero who finishes what he starts. This is the Batman the next movie should be about. It’s a great origin of the Death Knight of Gotham and one you don’t want to miss.

Well in his reality he WAS an antihero who has gone full psycho due to his Gordon’s pursuit. The rest of his Gotham thought he was serving Justice. In Batman’s timeline he is full blown psycho killing anyone and everything.

I don’t think he’s considered to be an antihero in his world either. Gordon made that pretty clear. He’s seen as a psychopath in his world, who even kills cops, if it serves his purpose. Even his Alfred betrayed him. The Grim Knight is also the only Batman, who threatened Alfred’s life. Sorry, but I really wouldn’t see him as an antihero in any world.

Ever since The Grim Knight has been introduced I wanted something like this issue. I think the whole concept of Bruce Wayne shooting Joe Chill right there in the alley is really interesting and I'm happy to say that this issue delivered. It ties in nicely to the main book while giving us more info about who The Grim Knight really is and what caused him to help The Batman Who Laughs. Combine all of this with great art and you got yourself a fine issue that I very much recommend.

Billed as an origin story for The Grim Knight, this issue missed an opportunity to delve into the psyche of an alternate universe Bruce Wayne to try and explain what events might create a Batman who breaks the “rule” by gleefully killing the criminals of Gotham. What we ended up with is a rather pedestrian, although skewed, retelling of the classic Batman origin tale. It gives us little insight into why this version of Batman is a gun-toting psychopath with little regard for human life.

From the moment that this Bruce’s parents are gunned down in Crime Alley, he is willing to pick up a gun and extract cold-blooded revenge. On it’s own that is not a unbelievable moment, but when we have already seen this story play out so many times in a different way, it feels cheap to not be enlightened as to why things are different this time. We are never enlightened to the why this Batman is killer, simply shown over and over again that he is good at it.

While the narrative is disappointing from that perspective, the artwork is sublime. There may be artists better suited to drawing a gun-toting Batman blasting his way through the dark alleys and shadows of Gotham city - but I would be hard-pressed to name one. We are even treated to moments of a different side of Risso throughout the book that has a softer, painterly style with hints of Sam Keith. It is the everpresent shadows of his ink work however that sets him apart from many others.

While this book did not hit the mark for me, it does offer a look into a funhouse mirror and shows us a hyper-violent Batman that is judge, jury, and Punisher of Gotham’s evildoers. For those that can never get enough Batman this might scratch a particular itch.
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Plenty of Bat-history references and sides of Gordon that bring about both horror and respect for our favorite Commissioner. I'm no detective but it's fairly easy to tell when Snyder comes up with the plot points and Tynion comes up with the execution, and they continue to play well together.